Unterthingau: Trails, History and Outdoor Pool

Unterthingau combines local history with trails through the Allgäu countryside. The municipality consists of three districts—Unterthingau, Oberthingau and Reinhardsried—and lies on the edge of the Kemptener Wald forest. Hiking trails in the municipality invite you to explore the Allgäu countryside. Highlights also include Unterthingau Castle, a historic medieval market and an outdoor swimming pool that is open during the summer months.

Districts, Forest and Trails

For an active stay, the hiking trails in the municipality are a highlight in their own right. One specific route is the Brandlemoos loop: about 5.5 kilometres long, it runs through gently hilly terrain and starts at the car park of the Gasthof Hirsch “Felderwirt” in Unterthingau. Its length, terrain and starting point can help you fit the hike into your day’s plans. If you’re hiking together, you can take the approximate distance and gently hilly terrain into account when choosing your route.

The Moorwald loop offers a different experience. It runs from Oberthingau to Unterthingau, then via Hauptmannsgreut back to Görisried. The two hikes therefore differ in their layout: the Brandlemoos loop can be identified by its circular route, approximate length and starting point, while the sequence of places determines the course of the Moorwald loop. This can help you decide whether to focus on a clearly defined circular hike or a route that passes through several named places.

Local History and Summer at the Outdoor Pool

Unterthingau Castle serves as the seat of the municipality and the municipal administrative association, as well as a library and venue for clubs. An older link to the area’s history is the predecessor church of St. Nicholas in Unterthingau, built around 800 AD. The historic medieval market is also part of the town and takes place every four years. If you’d like to plan your visit around this event, check the event dates in advance.

In summer, the outdoor pool adds another option. It is open during the summer months and offers a place to swim on hot summer days, perhaps at the end of a cycling tour. Check the latest opening details before your visit.

The Ostallgäu as a Regional Planning Framework

You can also look beyond the local area to the wider Ostallgäu destination. In the Ostallgäu district, the mountains in the southwest belong to the Vilser Gebirge range, while those in the southeast form part of the Ammergebirge range. At 2,082 metres, the Hochplatte is the highest mountain in the Ostallgäu. These landscape highlights add a regional perspective to the view of Unterthingau’s districts and hiking trails.

The Ostallgäu offers a variety of route types for cycling and hiking. The regional cycling routes of the RadReiseRegion Ostallgäu extend across the entire Ostallgäu, are each 25 to 76 kilometres long, consistently signposted and have their own theme. There are also 32 local hiking routes showcasing special natural and cultural treasures in the towns. This gives you a choice between themed cycling routes and shorter local hiking routes as regional highlights.

The Forggensee offers another combination of lake and cycling route: the Forggensee cycle path runs around the lake. At more than 15 km², the Forggensee is Bavaria’s fifth-largest lake and Germany’s largest reservoir. Forggensee boat trips run regularly during the summer season; check the timetable when planning your day.

The region’s cultural highlights include Neuschwanstein Castle, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 12 July 2025, together with Linderhof Palace, the King’s House on Schachen and Herrenchiemsee Palace. Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau royal castles can only be visited as part of a guided tour. Keep this in mind if you’re planning to visit a castle.

Choose Accommodation to Match Your Interests

Turn the many possibilities into a travel plan that suits your interests.

Discover more destinations: Marktoberdorf, Roßhaupten, Lamerdingen, Kaufbeuren, Schwangau, Obergünzburg, Oberostendorf and Görisried.

For an overview of the wider region: Ostallgäu.